Latest news with #UHI
Daily Record
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
900 year old carved stone head found on Scottish island in 'find of a lifetime'
The artefact is now being preserved along with other finds from the dig and will be cleaned and eventually put on public display An archaeology student has uncovered what could be a 900-year-old carved sandstone head on the Orkney island of Rousay, in what experts are calling a 'find of a lifetime'. Katie Joss, an undergraduate from the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Archaeology Institute, made the remarkable discovery at Skaill Farm during an excavation of a large wall foundation. As she removed a slab, the intricately carved head tumbled into her hands. 'It was quite a shock,' Joss told the BBC. 'We were removing a slab when the head came rolling out at us and as we turned it around we saw a face looking back at us. It was really exciting.' The object is believed to be crafted from rich red sandstone, complete with yellow inclusions, and is thought to have originated from the island of Eday. According to archaeologists, the stone appears similar to other material used in the nearby St Mary's old parish church. Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon, co-director of the Skaill Farm excavation and part of the UHI Archaeology Institute, expressed her surprise at the detail and craftsmanship of the carving. 'This is such an exciting find,' she said. 'Over the years excavating at Skaill and The Wirk, the nearby hall tower, we have found several interesting moulded pieces of red sandstone but nothing like this!' She described the head as being carved to be viewed from the front at a slight angle, allowing the viewer to appreciate the finely detailed locks of hair on the top of the head. 'The eyes appear closed as there is nothing to indicate pupils,' she said. 'The slight smile and asymmetric eyebrows express real character.' Although the head is largely intact, its nose is broken off. Dr Gibbon said it remains unclear whether the damage was intentional. 'Could this have been done deliberately as an act of iconoclasm or was this accidental?' she wondered. 'It's odd that no other part of the head is damaged.' The style of the eyes has been loosely compared to early phases of the stonework found in St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, though Gibbon noted she 'could find no comparison for the serene expression' captured in the carving. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The artefact is now being preserved along with other finds from the dig and will be cleaned and eventually put on public display. The Skaill excavation is now in its tenth year and is located directly over what was once a prominent Norse settlement. The name Skaill comes from the Old Norse word 'skáli', meaning 'hall', and the site is believed to have belonged to the powerful 12th-century Viking chieftain, Sigurd of Westness. The discovery adds to a growing collection of artefacts linked to the Norse occupation of Rousay and may offer further insights into life and artistry in medieval Orkney.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Orkney carved stone head could be more than 900 years old
An intricately-carved sandstone head which could be more than 900 years old has been found on the Orkney island of head was discovered by University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) archaeology student Katie Joss at the Skaill Farm was exploring the foundations of a large wall when the head popped out into her hands."It was quite a shock, we were removing a slab when the head came rolling out at us and as we turned it around we saw a face looking back at us. It was really exciting," she said. Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon from the UHI Archaeology Institute is co-director of the dig at Skaill Farm, which is now in its 10th year. She said she was surprised at the intricacy of the carved face and hair, which looks serene despite its nose being broken off."It looks very similar to a carved head in the south aisle of St Magnus cathedral," she added that the style of it suggested it might have had a similar function in a 12th Century building."It's really unusual, we've found nothing like this here at Skaill before," she said."We don't know how the head ended up in the backfill of this building, though the fact the nose is broken could be a clue." The head - which has not been given a name yet - is being preserved with the other finds from the will be cleaned up and put on public display at some point in the name of Skaill farm comes from from the Old Norse word "skáli", meaning "hall".The Skaill excavation site sits directly on top of what was once the Norse settlement of powerful 12th Century Viking chieftain, Sigurd of Westness. Dan Lee, an archaeologist with the UHI Archaeology Institute, said: "Sigurd was pals with Earl Rognvald, who built St Magnus cathedral in Kirkwall."We think we are standing on the hall that Sigurd built and lived in, which then became a late-medieval farmstead."Right next door we have the remains of St Mary's chapel and a medieval tower called The Wirk."We think this was a real seat of power in that period."
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
University of the Highlands and Islands student numbers drop
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) saw its student numbers fall by more than 6,000 students in one academic year, according to Freedom of Information (FOI) figures. UHI is a network of colleges and teaching centres across the Highlands, Islands, Moray and numbers - across all courses - fell from 42,255 in 2022-23 to 36,142 the following academic year. A spokesperson for UHI said the figures reflected broader sector challenges, including demographic shifts, increased competition for students and the impact of the Covid pandemic. The BBC FOI figures show it is not the first time numbers have dropped sharply with a similar fall between 2018/19 and 2019/ remained higher than they were at the peak of the Covid pandemic in 2020/21 when they fell below 33, findings come amid challenges across the university sector in Scotland, with some hitting a crunch point, forcing job losses and facing questions about their has faced funding issues, merging colleges in north Highland, west Highland and the Western Isles in 2023. A spokesperson said the university was seeing "encouraging signs of recovery" after a post-pandemic decline in several high-volume, full-time undergraduate programmes. Growth in graduate apprentices and international education were said to be supporting a return to previous levels. Mike Williamson, from the University and College Union Scotland, said it was vital UHI was made more secure and stable."UHI is currently discussing how it adapts to changing circumstances," he said."UHI has cut staff on several occasions over the past three years."We're in redundancy avoidance talks with the university right now. It's as a direct result of student numbers going down."A spokesperson for the university said it had been investing resources into student recruitment.
Daily News Egypt
20-07-2025
- Health
- Daily News Egypt
Roche helps Egypt expand digital pathology and AI diagnostics
Roche Diagnostics is supporting Egypt's expansion of digital pathology and the integration of artificial intelligence into its public health system to improve the speed and accuracy of diagnoses, particularly in underserved regions, a company official said. The initiatives are being rolled out in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) system, according to Liliane Kanaan, North Africa Lead and General Manager for Egypt at Roche Diagnostics. Egypt is one of the first countries in Africa to adopt digital pathology at scale. The technology digitises tissue samples, allowing them to be viewed and analysed remotely. 'By reducing diagnostic turnaround times and enabling telepathology, this innovation will improve both the speed and equity of care delivery,' Kanaan said. 'In underserved communities, digital pathology will facilitate timely first opinions, helping patients receive a diagnosis locally without the need for extensive travel.' For more complex cases, the system allows for rapid second opinions from national or international experts. 'This significantly decreases the travel time and physical burden on both patients and healthcare professionals, while also accelerating diagnosis and treatment planning,' Kanaan added. Roche is also collaborating with national stakeholders to integrate AI into diagnostic workflows by deploying digital pathology scanners and AI-powered tools to modernise hospital pathology laboratories. Kanaan said this helps reduce the burden on healthcare professionals and directly addresses a critical skills gap. 'Notably, this solution directly addresses the severe shortage of pathologists across Africa, where statistics reveal there is approximately one pathologist for every one million people—compared to a ratio of about 1 to 25,000 in countries like the United States and United Kingdom,' she said. The company, which has operated in Egypt for over two decades, has been involved in several national health programmes. Kanaan cited collaborations that have contributed to national health outcomes, including Egypt's Hepatitis C elimination campaign. 'Roche played a key role in deploying national screening efforts, contributing to Egypt's recognition as a WHO Golden Tier country for HCV elimination—an achievement that reflects both the scale and effectiveness of the programme,' she stated. Other past partnerships include supporting the national blood safety strategy with Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) technology at the National Blood Transfusion Center and providing over two million tests during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company continues to support the Presidential Breast Cancer Initiative, launched in 2019, which has screened more than 30 million women to date. Aligning with national priorities like the Presidential Women's Health Initiative ensures innovation addresses the population's most pressing needs, Kanaan said. As part of this, Roche supported the upgrade of more than 26 public pathology laboratories across Egypt. 'These 26 upgraded sites enabled us to deliver over 20,000 full breast cancer diagnostic panels, an essential step in defining effective treatment plans for patients,' she said. Roche is also participating in the national cervical cancer early detection campaign, which has screened more than 20,000 women in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and several non-governmental organisations (NGOs). To meet the region's specific needs, Kanaan said the company localises its solutions by engaging with stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, UHI, military hospitals, academic institutions and NGOs. This involves providing comprehensive solutions that go beyond product sales to include capacity-building programmes, lab software and health consultancy services tailored to local infrastructure and regulations.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Buildings & asphalt surfaces, not just climate, heating up Bengaluru, finds IISc study
Bengaluru: Bengaluru is warming up — and not just because of global climate change. A new scientific study has found that the city itself is becoming a heat trap because of the way its land is being used. This is called Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, where temperatures inside the city are significantly higher than in nearby rural or forested areas. The reason? Concrete and asphalt surfaces absorb and store heat, while the loss of green spaces and waterbodies removes natural cooling systems. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) study is one of the first to provide micro-level data, showing exactly how land use choices at even the smallest scales — like an individual plot or street — can affect urban temperatures. If Bengaluru wants to stay liveable in the coming decades, reversing some of these trends is not optional; it's essential. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru What has changed in city? Researchers from IISc and partner institutes studied satellite images from 1973 to 2025 to map how Bengaluru's landscape has changed over the decades. The findings are stark: ■ Built-up areas have expanded by 1,078%. In 1973, just 7.9% of Bengaluru was built-up (meaning buildings, roads, and other paved areas). Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Fernandina Beach: Here's The Average Price of a 6-Hour Gutter Upgrade Read More Undo by Taboola by Taboola In 2025, this reached 87.6%. ■ Vegetation cover has reduced by 88%. Parks, tree cover, and open green spaces have disappeared across large parts of the city. ■ Waterbodies have shrunk by 79%. The number of lakes has fallen from 756 in 1973 to 216 in 2023. Many remaining lakes are encroached or polluted. How much hotter is the city? The researchers used satellite-based thermal data to calculate Land Surface Temperature (LST) — the temperature of the ground, buildings, and other surfaces. ■ Maximum LST recorded: 48°C ■ Minimum LST recorded: 29.8°C ■ Average LST: 38.6°C What else was identified? ■ 15.4 sqkm of heat hotspots: Areas that regularly record very high temperatures. ■ 23.8 sqkm of heat sinks: Pockets that remain cooler, usually because of green cover or waterbodies. ■ 545.3 sqkm of the city face unfavourable ecological conditions due to high temperatures and poor thermal comfort. Why is this happening? Heat islands form because of how cities are built and planned. In Bengaluru: ■ Buildings, roads, and pavements absorb solar heat during the day and release it at night, keeping local temperatures high. ■ Trees and lakes, which usually cool the environment through shade and evaporation, have been removed or degraded. ■ The city's flat terrain means there is little natural drainage of hot air. Detailed land use & temperature findings The researchers went beyond broad city-level data and looked at micro-level patterns, even analysing land use within small plots, the size of an individual housing site. Their key findings include: ■ Barren land and fully urbanised areas are the hottest. Fully barren areas had an average surface temperature of 39.9°C; fully urban (concrete-heavy) ones recorded 39.7°C. ■ Vegetated areas and waterbodies are the coolest, while those dominated by waterbodies having temperatures of around 31°C. ■ Mixed-use areas (some vegetation, some built-up) have moderate temperatures. The more green space a plot retains, the cooler it stays. UHI impact on daily life ■ Higher electricity bills (more fans & air-conditioners). ■ Increased risk of heat stress and health problems, especially for the elderly and children. ■ More pollution, as heat worsens air quality. ■ Reduced quality of life, with fewer comfortable outdoor spaces. HOW TO IMPROVE The IISc researchers have made specific recommendations: ■ Policy suggestions — Retain at least 30% green space at the plot level. New buildings shouldn't cover the entire plot with concrete or structures. — Create mini-forests in each city ward. — Rejuvenate lakes and prevent further encroachments. — Connect scattered tree patches to create continuous green corridors. — Promote green roofs and walls. — Use reflective building materials to reduce heat absorption. ■ Planning & governance — Incorporate these findings into the upcoming Bengaluru Master Plan 2031. — Involve local communities in managing neighbourhood green spaces, parks, and lakes. — Strengthen decentralised governance as per the Nagarpalika Act, so local wards can manage their own green areas.
